Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1304, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish a temporary Healthcare Task Force (Task Force) to:

The bill also appropriates $250,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2005-2006 for the operational expenses of the Task Force.

Testimony in support of this bill was received from the Hawaii Medical Service Association, ILWU Local 142, and several concerned individuals. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and Kaiser Permanente supported the intent of the bill.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii does not have a comprehensive health plan to implement healthcare for all the State's residents. Your Committee notes that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain or afford healthcare and healthcare coverage. Hawaii has seen a 40 percent increase in the number of uninsured in five years, and that the number of residents in Hawaii that are uninsured or underinsured continues to grow.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1304, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.